How to Write a High-Quality Article in 1 Hour or Less

So that you can write more and make more money. Quality doesn’t lie in the effort

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

I used to think the more effort you put in and for longer, the better the article or piece of content will be. Combine this belief with ever-lasting perfectionism (like in my case), and you get a deadly match.

After thousands of hours spent working as a freelance writer, I found out how shallow and dangerous this mindset really is. It can deplete your energies and waste your best hours of focus — leaving you to burn out every few weeks or months.

I proved this idea wrong when I got my first semi-viral article here on Medium. I was experimenting with shortening my writing time, and that article took me exactly one hour to write, edit and publish. I definitely didn’t think it was a good article, but I decided to publish it anyway just because.

Not only did it get accepted, but it received a ton of attention, too. I published it months ago and it still receives comments and highlights on a daily or weekly basis. I would have probably thrown that article away because I didn’t “put enough effort into it,” and there it was, receiving comments about how useful people found it.

At that point, I asked myself what the real goal of writing was for me: to spend hours reading every paragraph 50 times, or to be helpful?

I started fighting my perfectionism habits relentlessly, so I could write more and help more. And this is why we’ll talk about how it’s absolutely possible to write a perfectly-good, high-quality article in one hour only, including everything, from writing to publishing. Let’s start.

Step 1: Free Writing (25 Minutes)

There’s not really much to say here. Set a timer for 25 minutes (you can start with more and build your way down from there) and start writing.

In the beginning, it was easier to put any thought on paper without judging it (nor the thought itself, nor the way it was written, nor the grammar). I just tried to put down as many ideas and as fast as I could. And I must say that it helped a lot with my perfectionism.

It was a necessary exercise in the beginning, but you might not be in the same mindset I was, so if you can start with an outline from the beginning that’s even better. I applaud you.

However, I think it’s mandatory to mention that this was an uncomfortable process, and it didn’t happen overnight. I didn’t start writing one-hour articles from the first day. It took a few weeks, but it was all worth it in the long run, still is.

Step 2: Editing (20 Minutes)

What do they say? “Write without fear, edit without mercy.” That’s also the reason why you should allow yourself less time to edit. It’s just too easy to fall back into the perfectionism trap, and the more time you give yourself, the longer you permit this behavior. This is the same idea behind Parkinson’s Law: “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”

I started by giving myself 40 minutes and slowly started transitioning to 15 to 20 minutes. I’ve realized it was the right amount of time for me to edit a discrete article. Of course, this is just an average number. If I’m writing a very long, detailed post that requires some additional research and data checking, it’ll take more. The point is that I always try to set on a specific amount of time available, and that’s what does the trick.

Another tip on editing I could give is to do it through your phone. I don’t know exactly what it is, and I don’t know if this can work for anyone, but it’s worth trying.

I found that when I’m editing from my phone, I can almost read and scan through the article faster, which results in a clearer highlight of the parts that are missing content and those who need some trimming. Of course, to be able to do this I turn off all notifications, or I’d end up on Instagram in 20 seconds.

Step 3: Publishing (10 Minutes)

You’re pretty much done. Here comes the easiest part of the process. Review the article, give it a quick read, add images, links, and all of that stuff, then hit “send to publication” or just publish it on your own profile, or send it to a client. Whatever it is.

And then…just celebrate! You did a good job, repeat it out loud and believe it. Take a break, make yourself some hot tea or coffee or any beverage of choice and just relax. Allow your mind to wind off and your focus to switch from the topic you just wrote about. A 20- to 30-minute break should do it.

Pro Tip: Write on an Empty Stomach

I know this piece of advice might sound unconventional — or even crazy — to some people. But that’s exactly why I’m giving it. You don’t want to hear the same common-sense advice on writing over and over again, do you?

I’d say 90% of the time I write on an empty stomach. I write (almost) first thing in the morning, right after my morning routine. I always skip breakfast and follow an intermittent fasting routine.

Since I’m a freelance writer, the money I make depends on how much I write and how good the content is. I’m also a part-time student, so I’m extremely motivated to write as fast as I can. And my focus span is crucial for that.

Personally, I do notice an extreme difference when I write after eating. I feel heavier, have trouble keeping my focus and overall I don’t “feel like it.” It’s normal to feel tired and sleepy during digestion so your brain skills won’t be as sharp at that time.

I suggest to at least try this trick a few times to see the difference for yourself. For the first two or three days, you might experience the opposite because you’ll feel too hungry to focus on anything, but if you push through, the benefits will pay off immensely.

One Last Thought

You might have noticed I didn’t exactly reach the one-hour mark (you can count 55 minutes total in the process), and sometimes I give myself even less than that to get the work done. It really depends on the level of focus, topic or busyness of the day.

But realistically, you should give yourself some room for mistakes and distractions. Not too much, or it could be a sign of perfectionism creeping in once again.

Finally, I know you might be skeptical in the beginning and struggle a bit, but you’ll be surprised by what you can achieve if you give yourself the chance to.